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Dual boot vista and xp

pontifex

pontifex

Lifer
I have XP on my system now. I want to add another HD and install Vista on that. I guess I could just unplug my XP drive and plug this one in and vice versa when I want to use each one, but I'd rather not do it that way.

How can I make it dual boot and select which version I want to load?
 
Install XP first, then Vista. That'll give you the Vista bootloader menu, which will automatically have "Vista" and "older version of Windows" then.
 
I am about to attempt this also. My boot drive has XPSP2, should I just install Vista HP on the same drive or on a seperate drive? I have a very stable install of XP and really dont want it screwed up. I also have 4 other HDs. I could install Vista on my as of yet unused 750gb HD. I just dont want to screw up my XP install. Should I leave all the drives as is and install Vista on the unused but installed drive?
 
Yes you should, that's the easiest way. The only thing that will always be on the 1st drive is the bootloader - but the individual OS system volumes may be on any drive.
 
Lately I am hearing that the best way to do this is to install vista 64 as the primary OS, then put any other OS's including 32 bit... on VMware.

I haven't had a need to install winxp32 yet, but I'd consider VMware as an option. It offers many features above simply dual booting, but there's nothing "wrong" with dual booting either
 
Originally posted by: wired247
Lately I am hearing that the best way to do this is to install vista 64 as the primary OS, then put any other OS's including 32 bit... on VMware.

I haven't had a need to install winxp32 yet, but I'd consider VMware as an option. It offers many features above simply dual booting, but there's nothing "wrong" with dual booting either
Click to expand...

VMware= no 3D gaming
 
Originally posted by: postmortemIA
Originally posted by: wired247
Lately I am hearing that the best way to do this is to install vista 64 as the primary OS, then put any other OS's including 32 bit... on VMware.

I haven't had a need to install winxp32 yet, but I'd consider VMware as an option. It offers many features above simply dual booting, but there's nothing "wrong" with dual booting either
Click to expand...

VMware= no 3D gaming
Click to expand...


Was not aware of that, thanks
 
Disconnect your XP drive, connect the new drive, enter the BIOS and make the new drive the boot drive, and install vista on it.

After Vista is installed, connect the XP drive back.

Now, when you start the computer, press the function key that gives you the boot menu and select which drive to boot to. That way you can boot to either OS.
You can set the default drive by editing the BIOS settings. You won't have to do anything to boot to the default OS.

This keeps the two installations completely independent of each other. You can remove one or re-install one and nothing will change.



Alternatively, just leave the XP drive attached while you install Vista.
Then, you will not have to press any function keys when you start. Vita will give you a menu every time you start to choose the OS to use.
But, if something happens to the Vista drive one day, you will not be able to boot to XP until you restore the XP boot loader.
 
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